19, August 2017

The Bible says: ‘When He [Jesus] had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because You say so, I will”… When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break… When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees… For he and all his companions were astonished…Then Jesus said…“Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.” So they…left everything and followed Him.’ (Luke 5:4–11 NIV) The real test of your faith comes when nothing you’ve tried has worked, and God tells you to do something that stretches your faith to its limit. At that point you have the choice: give in to your doubts, or say with Peter, ‘Because You say so, I will.’ This story teaches us God works in three ways:

(1) He uses the common to do the uncommon. In their workplace where nothing special ever seemed to happen, Jesus showed up, called them, and changed their lives. So, look for God in your daily routine, and don’t be surprised when He surprises you.

(2) He moves you out from the security of the shallow to the risks of the deep. The great catches and the great storms are both in the same sea. If you want one, you have to contend with the other. No risk, no reward.

(3) He involves you in one thing to teach you another. Christ’s plan for these men was to involve them in an even greater miracle: fishing for souls. Today that’s His plan for you too. And it begins when you say, ‘Lord, because You say so, I will.’